Books, Authors and multiple genres. To promote, encourage and discover authors for the book-aholic in all of us.

Saturday, January 25, 2020

About the Book

Book: Legion

Author: Shadia Hrichi

Genre: Bible Study

Release Date: Oct 8, 2019

How far will Jesus go to rescue one lost soul?

Tormented, chained, and living in a graveyard, the man known only by the name of the demons that tormented him had no one to help him–no one to intercede for him. No one but Jesus. Climb into the boat with Jesus as He heads into enemy territory. Witness Jesus’s power and passion as He battles violent storms and armies of demons in order to rescue . . . one . . . lost . . . soul.

Through this six-week, action-packed Bible study, you will experience God’s relentless love as you celebrate the impassioned Savior Who moved heaven and earth to rescue you.

About the Author

“SHADIA HRICHI is a passionate Bible teacher, author, and speaker who has a heart for seeing lives transformed by the power of God’s Word. She has received a master’s in biblical and theological studies from Western Seminary as well as master’s in criminal justice from the State University of New York. In addition to LEGION, Shadia is the author of several Bible studies, including HAGAR and Worthy of Love. Shadia is often invited to speak at churches, conferences, and other events. Her insightful, witty, yet vulnerable teaching style reveals a compassion for the hurting, love for Jesus, and uncompromising commitment to the truth of God’s Word. Visit shadiahrichi.com.

More from Shadia

If there is one universal truth, it is that every human heart longs for paradise. A perfect world without death, pain, or sorrow. A world at peace, where each of us is secure, treasured, and loved. But the reality is that the world as we know it will never deliver; it cannot. Scripture tells us that “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19).

As a result, you and I live in a broken world. A world that has been drifting off course ever since that slippery serpent enticed our first parents to reject God’s authority in that garden paradise so long ago. In that moment, they unwittingly handed over dominion of the earth to Satan on a silver platter. But this then begs the question. Why was God willing to risk rebellion in the Garden? And why would God allow His perfect creation to fall victim to the enemy’s schemes? And if God is good, why does He allow evil to exist?

Through this six-week study, you and I will explore the answers to these questions and more as we step into the fascinating story of the man known only by the name of the demons that tormented him. To be honest, I don’t know why I am attracted to the hard stories in the Bible. The messy stories. I suspect it stems, in part, from my own broken past. I can relate much easier to the broken people. The ones who experienced times when they felt unseen, or unloved, or unwanted. At the same time, their stories captivate my heart because when God reveals what He is doing behind the seen, His power and glory are displayed in ways that make my spirit soar!

So I invite you to come with me as we climb into the boat with Jesus and head into enemy territory. We will witness Jesus’s power and passion as He battles violent storms and armies of demons in order to rescue . . . one . . . lost . . . soul. Tormented, chained, and living in a graveyard, the man had no one to help him. No one to intercede for him. No one but Jesus. As a result:

A demoniac becomes a disciple.

A house of demons becomes a dwelling for the Living God.

The chained becomes a champion of good news.

You and I live in a world crying out for rescue. And just as Jesus was willing to cross the sea and rescue one man from the enemy’s chains, He crossed the heavens to rescue you and me from a fate even worse: eternal chains. But praise God that through His sacrifice for sin, Jesus conquered all the forces of evil and opened up the gates of paradise to all who embrace His mercy. So come with me. Let’s rediscover the God Who Rescues Me!

“For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.” —Colossians 1:13 NASB

There are numerous Bible Studies available and they all follow a similar format. It is usually set up with an example of someone from the Bible followed by scriptures, explanations and then questions that can be done over a period of time. I wanted to take a very close look at this Bible Study and see if I could give a clear and concise reason why this one would be beneficial.

I was cautious yet optimistic as I started to read. I wanted the study to intrigue me and make me want to dig deeper into what the author was trying to convey through the questions. Would I walk away feeling a deeper relationship with God? Could I discipline myself to do the study giving everything I had? So l began my journey to find out how far God was willing to go to save each of us.

The first part deals with the beginning as we get to know Adam and Eve. Okay so I pretty much have read this a million times and wanted to move on to the meat of the study. Oh how impatient I was when I almost overlooked something very significant in the study. If God had stepped in and stopped Adam and Eve's disobedience, then he would have taken away their freedom to choose. That just blows me away. From the beginning God was showing us that He wants the best for us, but we must decide which path we will chose. So I thought I knew it all, but that little sentence about free will opened my eyes to the choices we make each day. God could have stopped me from making a poor choice in my life, but if He did would I have learned anything?

I loved how the author explains scripture like this; " Scripture can never contradict Scripture." That is why I love this Bible Study so much. I found the reason to suggest this study to everyone. In the study the author explains that sometimes we give part of our life that we think God can control and the other part we think we need to control ourselves. In reality God can control everything in our life if we freely give it to Him. We see over and over in the study where we have free will. It is our choice whether we want God to rescue us or not.

We certainly aren't hiding anything from Him so why do we wan to hold on to things that keep us from completely surrendering to Him? I can say with confidence that this study is filled with truths that have helped me deal with struggles. I know I have kept some things to myself and not allowed God to help me. I have asked the question, "Where was God when I was being abused every day?" Why did He allow me to suffer?" Through all I endured, God was right there. He was protecting me but I blamed Him instead of the people responsible.

I really enjoyed this study and plan to redo it again and go slowly through it. It is very intense but worth the time you put into it. I learned a lot and realize that God has been there every time to rescue me.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

About the Book

Book: Lone Star Ranger

Author: Renae Brumbaugh Green

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release Date: January 21, 2020

Elizabeth Covington will get her man.

And she has just a week to prove her brother isn’t the murderer Texas Ranger Rett Smith accuses him of being. She’ll show the good-looking lawman he’s wrong, even if it means setting out on a risky race across Texas to catch the real killer.

Rett doesn’t want to convict an innocent man. But he can’t let the Boston beauty sway his senses to set a guilty man free. When Elizabeth follows him on a dangerous trek, the Ranger vows to keep her safe. But who will protect him from the woman whose conviction and courage leave him doubting everything—even his heart?

About the Author

Renae Brumbaugh Green is a city-girl-turned-country-diva. She’s married to a handsome country boy named Rick, and she’s mom to four nearly-perfect, nearly-grown children, two rowdy dogs, and some ducks. They live in rural Texas where Renae wears overalls, western boots, and bubblegum pink nail polish. She’s a bestselling author of over 30 books, an award-winning humor columnist, and an online English teacher. In her free time, she can be found leaping tall buildings and rescuing kittens from trees. Or, she’d like to do those things, if she had free time.

More from Renae

I’ve been a fan of historical romance from the moment I graduated from The Babysitter’s Club. A friend of mind introduced me to the Love Comes Softlyseries by Janette Oke, and I was hooked. In college, between exams and extracurricular stuff, I read those books like they were M&Ms. That’s why, when I started writing grown-up fiction, I knew historical was my genre.

But there’s another reason—perhaps a more compelling reason—why I had to write The Texas Rangers series. See, my granddaddy was a Texas Ranger. Not the baseball player kind. The gun-toting, cowboy-hat-and-badge-wearing kind. As far as I know, he was not a master of any kinds of martial arts, so if you’re a fan of Walker, Texas Ranger, I’m sorry to disappoint.

And he was not alive during the late 1800s, as are the characters are in this series. Grandaddy died in 1980 when I was 12 years old. He was a good man, known for rescuing puppies and bringing small gifts and toys to children in stressful situations—i.e. when their parents were arrested. My favorite memory of him is sitting on his lap, falling asleep to the sound of his big, round pocket watch ticking. I have a picture of myself, age three, sitting on his knee while he typed up his reports. I love that typewriter picture, and find it significant since I’m now a writer.

Grandaddy was Robert Everett Smith, and Grandmother (yes, I called her that—she was very formal, but also very sweet) was Ellie Marie (Edgar) Smith. The two lead characters in Lone Star Ranger are named Rett (Everett) and Elizabeth, in their honor.

Like Grandmother, Elizabeth is refined and formal, yet strong headed, with her own lady-like brand of spunk. She hails from Boston, and is a little overwhelmed at the grit and gravel of Texas lawmen. But she’s not intimidated—not even by handsome Texas Ranger Rett Smith.

Thanks so much for sharing in my cherished family memories. I hope you enjoy the story as much as I enjoyed writing it!

—Renae Brumbaugh Green

Sit back and travel to Houston, Texas in 1877 where the town is growing and danger is just around the corner. I loved the setting since I live in Houston and it was nice to read about what it was like in the 1800's . The story takes place where a criminal in on the loose killing people and stirring up fear. The picture they had of him must have been a rough sketch of the killer who resembles others.

Elizabeth and her brother have traveled around the countryside deciding where they want to live. They are grieving over the loss of their father and I liked that they had a close bond with each other. Through a series of events Elizabeth's brother is mistaken for the man in the sketch and hauled off to jail. Elizabeth must now try to save her brother before he faces death.

The banter between Texas Ranger Rett Smith and Elizabeth is quite entertaining. It won't be easy for Rett to keep Elizabeth safe as they go after the real killer. Even though I knew what was going to happen, it was still an enjoyable read. It reminded me of the western shows my dad would watch every Saturday. It always entailed the bad guy who causes chaos wherever he went. There is a nice bit of adventure and danger in the story to keep readers entertained. There is a little faith element in the story which shows how the characters depend on God to keep them safe, Overall it was a nice clean read with a happy ending. I look forward to the next book in the series.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion .

Friday, January 24, 2020

About the Book

Book: Faith’s Journey

Author: Heather Greer

Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance

Release Date: February, 2018

Sometimes it’s the unexpected path that leads you on your journey back to faith.

Katie McGowan left her parents and their faith behind years ago. However, when faced with a devastating betrayal, Katie is ready to go back to Carbondale, Illinois to help her elderly parents despite their tempestuous relationship. Drained by the constant friction, Katie finds emotional support and encouragement in Austin. His practical, simple faith speaks to Katie, and she finds herself yearning for a new connection to God. As their friendship grows, so does the attraction between Katie and Austin.

Before her fledgling faith and thoughts of romance have a chance to take root, Katie’s cheating fiancé returns, remorseful and promising change. Can her tentative faith strengthen their past love? And if her heart breaks again, will Katie’s journey to faith end before it has really begun?

About the Author

Heather Greer is a pastor’s kid and pastor’s wife from southern Illinois. Though her nest is quickly approaching the empty stage, with three of her four children out on their own, she enjoys the times she gets to spend with all her children, husband, and grandson. Equal mix geek and romantic, you could as easily find Heather watching an episode of Doctor Who as the latest Hallmark movie. Of course, you may find her baking, reading, or crafting too!

Heather’s writing and teaching ministries revolve around a passion to see believers grow in their faith. Though God has used her most often with teens and adults, she has worked in ministries reaching all age groups through the years. It is Heather’s prayer for God to use what she writes in her books and on her blog to challenge and encourage readers in their faith walks.

More from Heather

What happens when a person raised in church begins to see the failure of those within the church to live their faith every day instead of on Sunday morning? Often, the truths of scripture are pushed aside in favor of blanket statements like “churches are full of hypocrites” and “I don’t want to follow a God whose people are like that”. In frustration, they walk out the church doors in frustration. Sometimes they walk out with their beliefs intact, but other times faith gets left in the pew they vacate.

That’s what happened to Katie in Faith’s Journey. And when she left home for college disappointed with the people in the church she was raised in and at odds with her mother, it was all too easy to listen to the voices in her life telling her religion and God made no difference in life. Deciding she knew better than anyone what her life should be, Katie makes her own decisions without considering the God she left behind.

It takes a return home for Katie to start realizing there may be more to God than the people in the pews. Maybe she was quick to see the failures of others to live their faith but slow to see her own problems with the same issue. And maybe it’s time to acknowledge that regardless of how others are living out their faith, God has plans for her and desires a relationship with her that defines who she is every day.

While the original idea that sparked Faith’s Journey was what happens when someone you love betrays you, I quickly realized Katie’s story was more than that. In a sense, the first betrayal she needed to face wasn’t the one with her boyfriend. It was the perceived betrayal by those in the church who failed to live faith outside the church walls. It’s a feeling I believe many Christians have to face since there isn’t a perfect person in any pew.

I pray Faith’s Journey may be an encouragement and give a new perspective to those who currently struggle with the idea of church. And I hope it’s also a challenge to those of us faithfully in the pews each week to make our time there about more than religion or habit. I pray Faith’s Journey challenges us to evaluate the depth of relationship with have with God and let Him change the way we live every day, not just on Sunday.

One of the things I liked the most about this story was how easy it was to relate to the main character. Katie grew up in a Christian home but at some point she starts to turn away from God. I am a pastor's kid and was dragged to church every time the doors opened. Much like Katie, I started moving away from God and cut ties with my parents. It was interesting to see Katie returning to her parents house to help out. Her mother is injured and Katie's dad needs help taking care of her. I could fill the tension as Katie first walked through her childhood home. I also was called by my dad to come help him when my mom became very ill.

Katie was more than ready to come home to get away from a disastrous relationship. Her life seemed to be falling apart. What I liked was how the author takes a character and allows us to witness her failures and triumphs. Katie and her mom have a difficult relationship. Her mother was always criticizing her and it made for many tense moments between them. The author explores their relationship and it is an honest account of a struggle between mother and daughter. Katie's dad is wonderful and is always thanking Katie for her help. One thing is constant in the house; that constant is God's presence. Katie's parents know she has slipped away from her faith but they have always continued to pray that she would find her way back to God.

Katie has a trust issue and her faith has fallen along the wayside. It was hard for her to see people she knew and trusted in church be something completely different on Monday. It shattered her trust and belief in God. As we are introduced to Austin, I found him to be a very caring person. He is genuine and shares his faith with Katie as they get to know each other. It was a great friendship between them until one day Katie's trust in Austin is broken. What made Katie feel like Austin had betrayed her? Her life is in shambles as she faces hurt once again. There are some pivotal moments in the story where Katie is talking to God that is inspiring and very emotional.

The author has written a story that not only shows a person finding their way back to God, but allowing themselves to trust again. I loved how Austin didn't give up on Katie but knew he also needed to work on his relationship with God as well. Readers can expect a strong faith element in the story as well as a very honest look at people with flaws. I hope you pick up a copy and find your own "faith journey."

"God has a plan for our lives, but we have to be willing to follow."

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Thursday, January 23, 2020

About the Book

Book: Broken Promises

Author: Melody Carlson

Genre: Middle Grade

Release Date: December 15, 2019

A school play sounds like fun…for some.

As she settles into life in the middle school of her new hometown, Zoey agrees to audition for the school play to encourage Louisa. Isn’t that what a BFF does? But she’s none too sure it’ll actually be fun—especially when she’s cast as a dog! Louisa really does need her support though when some of the older girls get upset at a sixth grader landing the lead role. Zoey does her best to be supportive and finally begins to feel really at home with her grandparents and at school.

About the Author

Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books for teens, women, and children. That’s a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a “storyteller.” Her young adult novels appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She’s won a number of awards (including RT’s Career Achievement Award, the Rita and the Gold Medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog.

More from Melody

For many tweens, middle school is a jungle of insecurities, mean girls, and disappointments. As usual I gave Zoey plenty to deal with. Including a BFF with high expectations and an absentee mom who still hasn’t grown up. Even though some people let her down, Zoey keeps plugging along, even playing Sandy the dog in the school play. And through her struggles she changes and matures — kind of like real life.

The author has developed a great series for young girls that is fun to read. I liked being back with Zoey and her friend Louisa. Zoey seems to be pretty grounded even though her mother has pretty much abandoned her. Well really her mother dumped her to go follow her dream of being in a rock band. I liked how Zoey's grandparents have taken on a very supportive role in her life. It is refreshing to see grandparents being recognized for their support in raising their grandchildren. It made me think of the people I know that have stepped up to raise their grandchildren. It is not as uncommon as it use to be.

Zoey's mother is very selfish and I hope someday she realizes how much she has missed in her daughter's life. This story deals with bullying that is relevant to today. I don't like bullying and I enjoyed how the author presented it in the story. Another aspect of the story deals with promises. How many of us have made a promise that we broke? Zoey will find out a valuable lesson when she doesn't follow through with her promise. The faith element is light in the story but I feel it is just enough for this age group. I look forward to the next book in the series to see what happens with Zoey.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.